MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
Memphis scored four runs in the first two innings for an early lead and then hold off a furious rally late to take a 9-6 win over the University of Houston baseball team in the second game of a Conference USA series Saturday at Nat Buring Stadium.

The Cougars (8-12, 1-1 C-USA) scored single runs in each of the first two innings, but the Tigers answered in the bottom of each inning with a pair of runs to take the early lead.

UH pulled to within 8-6 after scoring four runs in the eighth inning and threatened for more with runners on first and third, but Memphis reliever Ryan Fly forced a strikeout to end the Cougars' last threat.

Sophomore righthander Brad Lincoln picked up the loss and dropped to 1-4 after giving up five runs (four earned) off five hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work. Memphis starter Nick Bradshaw improved to 1-0 after holding the Cougars to four runs off seven hits with a pair of strikeouts in seven innings.

Tiger reliever Drew Jaudon earned his first save by tossing a scoreless ninth inning against the Cougars.

Ryan Martin went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs and three RBIs, while Chad House finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Kevin Roberts batted 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to a UH season-best-tying seven straight games, while Lincoln went 3-for-5 with a run, double and two RBIs as UH outhit Memphis 11-9. Freshman infielder Bryan Pounds went 0-for-4 to see his career-best six-game hitting streak snapped.

The series wraps up at noon, Sunday at Nat Buring Stadium. That game can be heard live on KGBC 1540 AM with former Cougar letterwinners Nick Torina and Pat Cauley calling all the action. In addition, fans can follow the action by clicking on the "Gametracker" link at www.UHCougars.com.

As they did in Friday's opener, the Cougars struck for the game's first run in their first at-bat. Roberts blasted a 1-2 offering from Bradshaw over the left-field wall to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead and record his first home run of the season.

However, the Tigers answered in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to take their first lead of the series. Martin's double down the left field line plated Chad House, who led off with a walk, and allowed Jordan Tolliver to reach third base. Tolliver then gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead when he slid under the tag after Adam Amar reached on a fielder's choice.

In the next half-inning, UH catcher Brett Logan knotted the game after blasting a solo home run over the left-field fence.

Again, the Tigers answered in their next at-bat with a pair of runs. K.K. Chalmers plated the first run with an RBI-single through the right side to score Patrick Hope, who led off with a double off the center-field wall. Chalmers then came around to score on Tolliver's groundout.

In the fifth inning, Martin blasted a monster home run over the center-field wall to hand Memphis a 5-2 lead.

The Tigers iced the game in the seventh inning with three more runs, thanks to Martin's RBI-single and a double steal and subsequent Cougar infield error.

The Cougars rallied in the eighth inning with four runs off five hits. Travis Tully led off with a bunt single and moved all the way to third base when Roberts' double off the left field wall knocked Bradshaw out of the game. Brad Lincoln then greeted Memphis reliever Ryan Fly with a double down the right field line to score both Tully and Roberts.

After a strikeout, Dustin Kingsbury laced a single into left field, allowing Lincoln to move to third base. Matt Farrington reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Lincoln to score from third base. Brett Logan drew a two-out walk, and Mark McGonigle fought off an inside pitch to hit a looping single into shallow center field scoring Farrington and cutting the Memphis lead to 8-6.

However, that would be as close as the Cougars would get the rest of the way. The Tigers added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning on Chad House's RBI-single to left field for the final margin of victory.